Prince Harry is going through a defamation lawsuit from Sentebale, the group he helped set up practically 20 years in the past, over claims of a coordinated media marketing campaign that allegedly broken its repute.
The stunning case comes after a extremely publicized inner dispute that led to resignations and regulatory scrutiny.
The fallout has deepened tensions throughout the charity and left Prince Harry reportedly distressed, as questions proceed to swirl round its management and governance.
Prince Harry is going through a defamation lawsuit introduced by Sentebale, the charity he helped set up practically 20 years in the past. Court docket filings on the Excessive Court docket of England and Wales record each the duke and former trustee Mark Dyer as defendants within the case.
In keeping with a statement launched by the charity’s management, the authorized motion stems from what it describes as a “coordinated hostile media marketing campaign” that allegedly harmed its repute and disrupted operations.
Sentebale claims the marketing campaign, which it says started in March 2025, unfold deceptive narratives in regards to the group, strained relationships with employees and companions, and triggered waves of on-line abuse directed at its management.
The charity says the state of affairs compelled it to divert vital “time and sources into managing a reputational disaster not of the charity’s making.” Whereas the declare was filed on March 24, detailed courtroom paperwork haven’t but been made public.
Prince Harry Stepped Down As A Patron In 2025 Alongside The Co-Founder, Prince Seeiso
The dispute comes after a turbulent interval throughout the African charity group.
Each Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho stepped down as patrons in March 2025, citing a breakdown in relations between trustees and the chair of the board, Sophie Chandauka.
Their resignation adopted a wider fallout that noticed a number of trustees additionally go away their roles.
In a joint assertion on the time, the 2 founders stated they stepped apart “with heavy hearts,” describing the state of affairs as irreparable and deeply damaging to the charity’s governance.
The UK Charity Fee Performed An Investigation Into The Group
The controversy surrounding Prince Harry’s charity drew the eye of the UK Charity Fee, which led to an investigation into the group.
Its findings criticized all events for permitting inner disagreements to escalate publicly, calling it a “missed alternative” to resolve points privately and warning that the state of affairs risked undermining belief within the wider charity sector.
Nonetheless, the regulator stated it discovered no proof of systemic bullying or harassment, although it acknowledged that some people felt they’d been handled unfairly.
The Charity’s Chair Sophie Chandauka Ranges Allegations Towards Prince Harry
Sentebale, which operates in Botswana and Lesotho, focuses on supporting younger individuals affected by HIV and AIDS.
Tensions had been additional heightened by public feedback from Sophie Chandauka, who alleged in media interviews that scheduling conflicts linked to Harry’s business commitments, together with his Netflix deal, disrupted a deliberate fundraiser. She additionally urged that an incident involving Meghan Markle contributed to friction throughout the group.
Chandauka has beforehand claimed she reported considerations about governance to regulators and filed authorized motion to problem her elimination, alleging misconduct throughout the charity with out naming people. She described Harry’s resignation as surprising and characterised it as “an instance of harassment and bullying at scale.”
A supply later indicated that the state of affairs had taken a private toll on Harry, who was stated to be deeply affected after practically 20 years of involvement with the charity, initially based in honor of his mom, Princess Diana.
Prince Harry Was Reportedly Crushed By The Alleged Sentebale Takeover Disaster
In the meantime, the state of affairs is claimed to have taken a private toll on Harry. He has reportedly been deeply affected by what he views as a “hostile takeover” of the charity he helped construct.
In keeping with Rebecca English, the duke has been “totally devastated,” spending lengthy hours on calls from California talking with supporters and allies.
Sources cited in reviews final yr claimed that Harry and people near him consider Chandauka “cajoled her means” right into a place of affect and has resisted stepping down regardless of criticism of her management.
The fallout has reportedly created a deep divide, with one insider suggesting there’s little probability of Harry working with the group once more beneath its present construction.
Regardless of the turmoil, a spokesperson for Harry informed Page Six that whereas the duke doesn’t acknowledge the origin of a number of the claims, it’s honest to say he’s “deeply upset” by the state of affairs.
The assertion emphasised that he stays dedicated to the mission that impressed the charity practically 19 years in the past, supporting younger individuals in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV/AIDS and psychological well being challenges.
